The MVP is the first for Harden, who finished second in voting to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook in 2017.

Harden wins MVP after leading league in scoring

Harden led the league in scoring with 30.4 points per game while guiding the Rockets to the NBA’s best regular-season record. He also averaged 8.8 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals while hitting 36.7 percent of his 3-point shots for a team that set the NBA record for most 3-pointers made in a single season.

James Harden won his first NBA MVP award Monday, a year after finishing second in voting to former teammate Russell Westbrook. (AP)

James denied fifth MVP honor

James, a four-time MVP, finished behind Harden after a remarkable season that saw the 15-year veteran play in all 82 regular season games for the first time in his career. James averaged 27.5 points, 9.1 assists, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks on a team that finished fourth in the Eastern Conference before eventually making the NBA Finals.

Davis was also a finalist for the award after leading the Pelicans to the Western Conference’s six seed and their first playoff appearance since 2015. Davis averaged 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.5 steals and 2.3 assists and shone down the stretch after an Achilles injury knocked fellow All-Star DeMarcus Cousins out for the season. The Pelicans thrived despite the Cousins injury, a testament to Davis’ value.

Former Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey beat out Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder for Coach of the Year honors. The Raptors fired Casey after the Cleveland Cavaliers swept Toronto out of the playoffs despite the Raptors posting the best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference. Casey has since been hired to coach the Detroit Pistons.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jamal Crawford was honored as the NBA’s Teammate of the Year.